San Diego Man Arrested in 37-Year Cold Case Murder

More than 37 years after a Tucson woman was killed, homicide investigators believe they have solved the cold case homicide with the arrest of a San Diego man.

Tucson Police have identified Bruce McCullough as the suspect in the March 1976 murder of his then-girlfriend Donna Smith.

McCullough, 28, at the time of Smith’s death fled the Tucson area and assumed another identify, officials said.

Then, in 2013, homicide investigators got a break in the case when they learned that not only was McCullough using his identity again but that he had been living in San Diego.

With the help of San Diego police, detectives found McCullough, 66, and arrested him on May 2. He is now in custody facing a charge of first degree murder and extradition to Arizona.

Smith, 20, (pictured right) was found dead inside her home on March 19, 1976.

Investigators say she had been dead for several days before she was discovered.

Her mother is still living in Tucson. Detectives said they were able to visit her and give her the news of McCullough’s arrest.

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